Does John Duarte really want to defund the DOJ and FBI? | Opinion

Just before Wednesday’s momentous House approval of a debt ceiling deal, a billboard went up in Rep. John Duarte’s district criticizing him for not condemning former President Donald Trump’s retaliatory call to “defund the DOJ and FBI.”

While such political stunts rarely merit attention, I’m giving it some here because it’s a signal that Democrats already are gunning for Duarte, the Modesto Republican who will go up for reelection next year. Once again, Stanislaus County will be ground zero for one of the most contested House races in the country.

His 13th Congressional District — west of Highway 99 plus Ceres and running through Merced and parts of Madera, Fresno and San Joaquin counties — favored Joe Biden in 2022. In that election, Duarte beat former Democratic Assemblyman Adam Gray by 564 votes, a difference of 0.42%, in one of the closest House races anywhere.

Opinion

Duarte recently told The Modesto Bee Editorial Board he will seek a second two-year term in 2024, so it’s no surprise to see Dems targeting him early.

Like political fliers and mailers, billboards don’t provide context. This one, on East Pacheco Boulevard in Los Banos, attempts to align Duarte with Trump, a strategy you will see time and again across the nation for the next 17 months.

A statement emailed from Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Viet Shelton accused Duarte of attempting “to paint himself as a pro-public safety moderate (by) shamelessly refus(ing) to condemn the twice-impeached, criminally indicted former president’s call to defund the law enforcement agencies that keep Californians safe.” The billboard features a photo of Duarte altered to show duct tape over his mouth, saying he was silent about Trump’s April defunding antics.

The truth is less dramatic.

Duarte was among 15 House Republicans from whom Punchbowl News, a nonprofit service, sought comment when Trump lashed out. Trump was being Trump, throwing another tantrum because the feds investigated his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and keeping classified documents at his Florida home.

Duarte voted Wednesday for the debt ceiling deal, as did most moderates and even some not-so-moderates, like Tom McClintock, the congressman representing most of Modesto and Turlock and Stanislaus areas east of Highway 99. Both Republicans sent thoughtful messages to supporters explaining their votes.

Explaining debt ceiling votes

The Fiscal Responsibility Act represents “the most important victory for fiscal conservatives in more than a decade,” McClintock wrote Tuesday, anticipating Wednesday’s yes vote. “If we are going to save our country, Republicans need to get a lot worse at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”

Duarte’s statement focused on bipartisanship, citing compromise with Biden — by name — twice in three paragraphs. “These recent negotiations are a perfect example of democracy at work,” Duarte concluded.

Most House members voting no are on either fringe, far left or far right.

Remember that Duarte was among only a handful of Republicans who on May 11 voted against a GOP-crafted border bill because it was bad for our area and economy, angering colleagues. Does this sound like a MAGA extremist?

As for the billboard, Duarte on Wednesday said public safety “has been and always will be a top priority. I am committed to working with both Democrats and Republicans to defend, not defund, law enforcement and public safety.”

The billboard is one of a dozen across the United States in districts where Democrats will focus campaign money and energy.

In time, we will see the GOP strike just as sharply against Democratic candidates. In a purple district like the 13th — neither solidly red nor blue — it’s as expected as night following day.

So get ready for a wild ride. We’re in for another doozy.